Closure for personal care product container

ABSTRACT

A closure that may be used on a container such as a bottle that holds personal care products is disclosed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure relates generally to a closure that may be used on acontainer such as a bottle that holds personal care products such asshampoos and conditioners.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Protective packaging is used to protect products that are susceptible todamage during shipping. For instance, the product(s) may be surroundedby air pillows, styrofoam sheets, loose foam fill, newspaper, foamblocks, etc. However, certain shipped products cannot easily oraffordably be protected by such protective packaging. For instance, acapped glass or plastic container (such as a water bottle, a sodabottle, a medicine bottle, a condiment bottle, a personal care productbottle, etc.) may not include protective packaging around the upper endof the bottle where the cap is attached to the container body.Accordingly, the cap may become damaged, loose, or separated from thecontainer body during transit, and/or the upper end of the containerbody may become damaged.

Products are commonly packaged by a manufacturer or distributor prior tosale. This sort of packaging is referred to as “retail packaging.”Retail packaging varies widely depending on the products to be packaged,the size and the weight of the products, the durability or fragility ofthe products, where and how the products are to be sold, and numerousother factors. The retail packaging for a particular product is oftendesigned specifically for the particular product. Considerable time andexpense goes into designing retail packaging for a product. Due to thespecialized nature of retail packaging, the retail packaging for oneproduct is not likely to be suitable for another product. Thus, the costof designing retail packaging for a product significantly increases thecost of making the product available for sale. Such upfront design costsmay make retail packaging of some low volume or limited run productscost prohibitive.

Products and other items (collectively referred to as “items”) maysubsequently be packaged for storage and/or shipping. This sort ofpackaging is referred to as “non-retail packaging.” Non-retail packagingtypically employs general-purpose packaging supplies, such as cardboardboxes, bubble wrap, polystyrene peanuts, tissue paper, shrinkwrap,packing tape, and the like. Such general-purpose packaging supplies arereadily available, but are not particularly suited for the specificitems to be packaged. Consequently, items may be damaged during storageand/or transportation. Furthermore, the effectiveness of packaging isdependent largely on how the user chooses to package the item. Manyusers lack the skills or experience to effectively package items.

Product packaging can also be damaged during normal use by a consumer.E.g., the consumer may store the product in less than ideal conditionsand/or, e.g., drop the packaging.

Accordingly, there remains a need for improved methods of retail andnon-retail packaging.

U.S. Pat. No. 10,392,172 to Obrit Closures Switzerland GmbH, discloses aclosure for a container, the closure comprising a body formed from aplastics material and a metal retention member for retaining the body ona container neck.

D850,259 to Dart Industries Inc. discloses a flip top cap.

U.S. Published Application No. 20190092539 to Aptargroup Inc. disclosesa closure for a fluent substance-containing system, such as a container,that includes a body for receiving the fluent substance from the system,an actuator assembled with the closure body for selectively preventingor permitting flow of the fluent substance through the closure body, anda shell that is mounted around at least a portion of the closure body.

U.S. Published Application No. 20190329946 to L′Oreal discloses a capprotector for protecting a cap on a container. The reference disclosesthat the cap protector contains a plurality of axial fins extending froma common point, wherein each axial fin contains a body extending betweenan inner edge and an outer edge; and a cap-engaging lip defined on theinner edge that is configured to selectively engage a cap of acontainer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a closure 1 for a container that comprises a bodyformed from a plastics material, wherein the closure 1 is shown in FIGS.1-11.

According to an embodiment, the invention is a closure 1 that isintended not to be removable in use. For example, the invention may makeit impossible or difficult to remove the closure 1 withoutbreaking/damaging/destroying the container.

The closure 1 may be fitted to the neck of a bottle.

The closure 1 may be formed from a thermoplastic polymer such aspolypropylene (PP).

The body may be formed from a thermoplastic polymer such as polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

The closure 1 may be snap-fittable onto a container neck.

The present invention also provides a closure 1 as described herein incombination with a container.

The present invention also provides a container fitted with a closure 1as described herein. The container may be a bottle for a personal careproduct.

Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention areset out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Featuresof the dependent claims may be combined with the features of theindependent claims as appropriate, and in combination other than thoseexplicitly set out in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way ofexample, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a top, front, right perspective view of a closure 1 inaccordance with the present invention with flip top portion 2 open (theleft top, front, right perspective view is a mirror image of the rightside);

FIG. 2 shows a top, front, right perspective view of a closure 1 inaccordance with the present invention with flip top portion 2 closed(the left top, front, right perspective view is a mirror image of theright side);

FIG. 3 shows back, orthogonal view of a closure 1 in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 shows front, orthogonal view of a closure 1 in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a top, plan view of a closure 1 in accordance with thepresent invention with flip top portion 2 open;

FIG. 6 shows a right side elevational view of a closure 1 in accordancewith the present invention with flip top portion 2 open (the left sideelevational view is a mirror image of the right side);

FIG. 7 shows a right sectional view of a closure 1 in accordance withthe present invention with flip top portion 2 open (the left sectionalview is a mirror image of the right side);

FIG. 8 shows a right sectional view of a closure 1 in accordance withthe present invention with flip top portion 2 closed (the left sectionalview is a mirror image of the right side.

FIG. 9 is a bottom, plan view of a closure 1 in accordance with thepresent invention with flip top portion 2 open;

FIG. 10 is a pictorial, bottom, plan view of a closure 1 in accordancewith the present invention with flip top portion 2 closed.

FIG. 11 is a pictorial top, front, right perspective view of a closure 1in accordance with the present invention with flip top portion 2 open.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The example embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enablethose of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systemsand processes herein described. It is important to understand thatembodiments can be provided in many alternate forms and should not beconstrued as limited to the examples set forth herein.

Accordingly, while embodiment can be modified in various ways and takeon various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown inthe drawings and described in detail below as examples. There is nointent to limit to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, allmodifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope ofthe appended claims should be included. Elements of the exampleembodiments are consistently denoted by the same reference numeralsthroughout the drawings and detailed description where appropriate.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein are to be interpreted as is customary in the art. Itwill be further understood that terms in common usage should also beinterpreted as is customary in the relevant art and not in an idealizedor overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

The closure may be used for retail packaging (i.e., packaging of aproduct prior to sale by a manufacturer, distributor, or the like)and/or non-retail packaging (e.g., packaging for storage, shipping, orthe like). As used herein, the term non-retail packaging refers to anypackaging for storage and/or shipping, whether performed before or aftera sale to a consumer. That is, non-retail packaging includes shippingfrom a manufacturer to a customer, shipping from a manufacturer todistributor, shipping from a distributor to a customer, shipping fromany image individual to another, and/or packaging item(s) for storage.

E-Commerce

The closure may be employed on a container sent via e-commerce,including via a warehouse or fulfillment center of the e-commercemerchant. When a user places an order for one or more items, the one ormore items may be automatically packaged and/or shipped to the user.

FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 show the closure 1 of the invention. The closure 1contains a base portion 4; a flip top portion 2 capable of providingaccess to the container (not shown) when opened; and a hinge portion 3that permits opening and closing of the flip top portion 2.

In use, the base portion 4 of the closure 1 is snap-fitted onto the neck7 of a container (e.g., a bottle) (not shown).

Referring to, e.g., FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIGS. 7 to 11, each side 6 a and6 b of the base portion 4 is raised as compared to other points ofcontact with the flip top portion 2 to provide side impact protection.This helps prevent damage to the closure 1 and/or container (not shown)during, e.g., shipping, storage and/or use.

Referring to, e.g., FIG. 1, FIG. 5, and FIGS. 7 to 11, a ledge 7 isprovided on the interior wall of the base portion 4 at the point ofcontact with the flip top portion 2 to provide side load protection.This helps prevent damage to the closure 1 and/or container (not shown)during, e.g., shipping, storage and/or use.

Referring to, e.g., FIG. 7, FIG. 8 and FIG. 11, each side 6 a and 6 b ofthe base portion 4 contains a pin 8 that protects the hinge portion 3from impact loads. This helps prevent damage to the closure 1 and/orcontainer (not shown) during, e.g., shipping, storage and/or use.

Finite element analysis (FEA) is a computerized method for predictinghow a product reacts to real-world forces, vibration, heat, fluid flow,and other physical effects. It shows whether a product will break, wearout, or work the way it was designed. FEA can be employed to predict thebenefits of the closure of the invention while in use.

Thus, use of the closure 1 on a container neck helps prevent breakage ofthe plastics components.

As can be appreciated from the foregoing, the closure 1 simplifies andimproves the packaging and shipping process for capped containers.Moreover, the closure 1 may absorb and/or redistribute any compressiveforces imposed on the capped end during the logistical process.

With e-commerce at its height, simplification and improvement of thepackaging and shipping components saves money for the supplier andultimately the purchaser. Moreover, the purchaser receives a cappedproduct that is undamaged and unopened preventing frustration andcustomer dissatisfaction.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosedin detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it isunderstood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodimentsshown and that various changes and modifications can be effected thereinby one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of theinvention.

1. A closure for a container neck, wherein the closure comprises: a base portion; a flip top portion, wherein the flip top portion is capable of providing access to the container when opened; and a hinge portion that permits the opening and closing of the flip top portion; wherein each side of the base portion is raised as compared to other points of contact with the flip top portion to provide side impact protection; wherein a ledge is provided on the interior wall of the base portion at the point of contact with the flip top portion to provide side load protection; and wherein each side of the base portion contains a pin that protects the hinge portion from impact loads; wherein said closure protects against damage of said closure and said container during shipping.
 2. The closure of claim 1, wherein the closure is formed from a thermoplastic material.
 3. The closure of claim 1, wherein the container is formed from a thermoplastic material.
 4. The closure of claim 1, wherein the closure is snap-fitted onto the container neck. 